Since the founding of the Zionist movement until today, the question of the relationship between “church” and state in Israel remains unresolved, resulting in a continuous legal and social conflict among Israelis. The tension that arises from Judaism acting not only as a religion and culture but also as a national entity constitutionally underpinning an entire state — resulting in the “Jewish and democratic state” of Israel — manifests in major aspects of daily life for Israelis, such as marriage and divorce, conversion, and Shabbat. This book presents a crucial piece of scholarship in understanding the history and current dynamics of the relation between state and religion in Israel, and, in doing so, provides a unique perspective on the future potential solutions to this social rift.
